CIO 'vets' journalists intending to cover MSU graduation

The Midlands State University in Gweru

Journalists here laughed off suggestions by state security agents that they be 'vetted' by the spies first if they wished to cover the latest Midlands State University graduation, on today.

Quite a good number opted not to cover the event instead.

President Robert Mugabe, who is also the chancellor of all state universities, is expected to grace the occasion.

It began when a journalist with the state media relayed the message to his comrades via the WhatsApp group 'Gweru Media Practitioners.'

Today at MSU (Pic By Prof Jonathan Moyo)

"Gentlemen the state security has proposed that every journo willing to attend the graduation ceremony has to go thru a vetting process go see if u are fit to cover," said the journalist.

The scribes began to shoot back.

Laughed another:"Did you hear that??? Fit to cover ...what a joke !!!!"

"Ndiyo yatove story yacho iyoyo yekuti vakuda kuvetta majournos," suggested another.

Even Gweru Press Club president Lovemore Zigara, who writes for The government-controlled The Chronicle as well as Zanu PF-aligned ZiFM Stereo questioned the move by the spies: "As journos we dont have business with state security agents but the Zimbabwe Media Commission, saka l wont attend the graduation."

Then this morning, the day of the graduation, another journalist from the state media posted: "Mr (Edwil) Moyo veku Infor (Provincial Information Officer) said all those who are attending MSU graduation should collect their invitations at The Chronicle offices."

What a sick joke! 

According to Higher and Tertiary Education minister Professor Jonathan Moyo in a tweet, the graduation ceremony, the second at the Gweru-based institution within a month, will see 2,611 graduands being capped.